Rammstein's Deutschland video - the love/hate Relationship German's have with their country.
Major trigger warnings here. The band confronts everything about German history and they are not shy about it. I personally think showing those controversial scenes is important - many people are not aware that they are fucking non-fiction! I have watched it many times since discovering it a couple months ago - my apartment has a very high view of Soldier Field in Chicago and they were playing there…so I looked up a song…wow. Just wow. Blown away.
This video is…Uber-provocative…it is an incredible metal song with the guttural deep bass of the lead singer’s voice coupled with his flawless enunciation of the German language. Knowing the lyrics/translations is critical to understanding…the editing here is masterfully done…every single visual was thought about carefully and the symbolism well thought out…the beautiful black woman (Ruby Commey) representing Germania (a personification of Germany like Uncle Sam maybe) with the gold/red on or near her plus her black skin representing the German flag. Using a black woman as such a symbol is a big FU to neo-Nazis who might otherwise try to steal the song for their own purposes.
The scenes with the wealthy clergy of the 16th century or so feasting on Germania as ordinary people went without is … whoa.
Other scenes…the Hindenburg, the V2 rockets created by concentration camp slave labor, the communist regime with the lead singer dressed like the secret police or maybe Erich Honecker. The left wing terrorist groups of the 70s held Germania hostage.
Then the three minute outro is a pensive piano piece of another of their songs called Sonne (Sun)…gives you some time to unwind and reflect on what you just saw.
There are some good analysis pieces on YouTube where people discuss the video in depth. Many comments from Germans say they know exactly how the band members feel as they confront their country’s past and never want nationalists to be in charge ever again…it is scary though as the afd is gaining power.
“Germany…want to love and damn you.”
“Germany…your love is a curse and blessing…Germany…my love I cannot give to you”
Du hast viel geweint You have cried a lot
Im Geist getrennt In the mind apart
Im Herz vereint In the heart united
Wir sind schon sehr lang zusammen We have been together for a very long time
Dein Atem kalt Your breath is cold
Das Herz in Flammen The heart in flames
Du You
Ich I
Wir Us
Ihr You
Deutschland Germany
Mein Herz in Flammen My heart in flames
Will dich lieben und verdammen want to love you want to damn you
Deutschland Germany
Dein Atem kalt Your breath is cold
So jung so young
Und doch so alt and yet so old
Deutschland Germany
Ich I
Ich will dich nie verlassen I never want to leave you
Man kann dich lieben One want to love you
Und will dich hassen and want to hate you
Überheblich Overbearing (arrogant)
Überlegen Superior
Übernehmen to take over
Übergeben to surrender
Überraschen Surprising
Überfallen to attack (to assault, raid, invade)
Deutschland Deutschland über allen Germany Germany over everyone
Deutschland Germany
Mein Herz in Flammen My heart in flames
Will dich lieben und verdammen want to love you want to damn you
Deutschland Germany
Dein Atem kalt Your breath is cold
So jung so young
Und doch so alt and yet so old
Deutschland Germany
Deutschland Germany
Deine Liebe ist Fluch und Segen Your love is a curse and a blessing
Deutschland Germany
Meine Liebe kann ich dir nicht geben My love i cannot give to you
Deutschland Germany
Deutschland Germany
Du You
Ich I
Wir Us
Ihr You
Übermächtig Superior
Überflüssig Needles
Übermenschen Beyond-Man*
Überdrüssig Sick of
Wer hoch steigt, der wird tief fallen The higher you climb, the farther you fall
Deutschland Deutschland über allen Germany Germany over everyone
Deutschland Germany
Dein Herz in Flammen My heart in flames
Will dich lieben und verdammen want to love you want to damn you
Deutschland Germany
Mein Atem kalt My breath is cold
So jung so young
Und doch so alt and yet so old
Deutschland Germany
Deine Liebe ist Fluch und Segen Your love is a curse and a blessing
Deutschland Germany
Meine Liebe kann ich dir nicht geben My love I cannot give to you
Deutschland Germany